What kind of expert? You mean you want to know so much deep technical aspect of bitcoin like how it works, fearless mathematics and algorithms, extreme words that you didn't encountered yet in your life or just having lots of idea about how cryptocurrency works including trading?

You if you really want to be an "expert", you should start reading all bitcoin technical stuffs regularly. Not just by gathering information in this forum but you need to explore every inch of the internet to gather information. Also try to look up at the Technical section as some threads is informative. The things you need here is seriousness, focus and of course, a working brain. Goodluck mate.

I don't think there is a way that someone can tell you how to become an expert. You may get some advice, but sooner or later you will have to learn from your own mistakes, which will form your own experience.

Literally disagree with you, only fool would risk his money just to get some exp from his mistakes, I'd rather check some others shitty moves(pardonne my french) than get any dollar of mine to a BTC executioner's axe.

Hey. I think if you want to be an expert you need always study maybe get an education and of course get experience it lead you to success.

This forum is great resource to get more information about bitcoin, just using search function in the right board such as mentioned above and this : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=4.0 might be help.
Usually, if I have some basic questions about bitcoin, just check on this : https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/ there are a lot of information in there such as Technical articles, Protocol specification, Bitcoin Improvement Proposals, Software, mining, etc.

To become a Bitcoin expert, you must  be ready to invest your  time in acquiring  knowledge, ready all that has to do with bitcoin, ask questions here, get a mentor and  develop relationship with expert in bitcoin, you learn faster this way,this helps you to avoid making mistake now and in the future.
knowledge is power, do not assume you know. goodluck to you.

I suppose I'd like to know everything there is to k ow to qualify as an expert, programming inclusive.

To become a bitcoin expert we do not have to go deep into the cryptology complex, we just need to learn all the business on offer and start doing the action in depth. In this case there are indeed some of my goals to make personal rig mining and require deep knowledge of algorithms and calculations, but the most important thing is to focus on the skills to generate income.

I think learning on this forum is the best way for one time become a Bitcoin expert but it also needs all the patience as you can't rush through to become an expert. You need to nurture your knowledge on issues her over some time before you grasp the full understanding of Bitcoin and what's going on here.